Need some PC expert help... Gtx 1080???

Knitemare said:

Yeah, I have a 4th gen Core I5 (4670k)and it does just well.

I have a SLI of two GTX 980 and can do 5760 x 1080p in medium to high @45 fps... EDIT: @45 fps in the Witcher 3.

Ya, but the OP might be running his games maxed out with heavy MSAA/SSAA/Uber Sampling.

I am going to link the games OP mentioned with hard data. RX 480 ~ R9 290X.

The Witcher 2 - 43 fps minimums / 49 fps averages

In CPU demanding sections of this game, a 2.7-3.0Ghz i5 is going to hover in the low 40 fps range as far as minimums are concerned.

http://gamegpu.com/retro-test-gpu/the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings-20011-retro-test-gpu.html

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag

- 43 fps minimums / 51 fps averages on R9 290X with SMAA

- 35 fps minimums / 41 fps averages on R9 290X with MSAA 4X

CPU wise, not possible to maintain 60 fps minimums without an overclocked i5.

http://gamegpu.com/action-/-fps-/-tps/assassin-s-creed-4-black-flag-test-gpu.html

Skyrim Special Edition

RX 480 cannot maintain 60 fps minimums at 1080p.

And a sub-3 Ghz i5 will also have dips below 60 fps with an RX 480

http://gamegpu.com/rpg/%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-special-edition-test-gpu

The best quick fix is to sell the RX 480 and upgrade to a $360 GTX1070.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA65C4VD6807&cm_re=gtx_1070-_-14-125-893-_-Product

Then take the $200+ saved from not buying a GTX1080 and start saving up for either a 6700K/7700K drop-in (and sell the i5-6400 to recoup some resale value) or consider 6-8 core Skylake-X/Zen platform. There are rumors that AMD may have a 3.4Ghz Zen 8-core 16 threads priced as low as $349-399. That would be a hell of a deal since with PS5/XB2 possibly launching in 2019-2020, we should start to see even more games taking advantage of more than 4 threads.

Some people always claim their i5 2500K/3570K/4670K/i5 6600K, etc. + RX480/1060/GTX980 rig runs all games at 60 fps but anecdotal experience doesn't align with hard facts when tested by professional reviewers. For example, Watch Dogs 2 on maxed out settings will crush even a $600 GTX1080. The key with such poorly optimized titles is to change the IQ/graphical settings in the game.

Also, the newer games are using > 4 threads and an i5 simply cannot keep up with some of them. In Watch Dogs 2, the January 2011 i7-2600K is faster than the August 2015 i5-6600. Even the 8 module FX9590 is faster than the i7-4770K. More and more games are going to take advantage of at least 8 threads in the future.